Dreams of a durable, comfortable and beautiful home may someday come true. It all depends on how these dreams will be combined with physical and mental efforts.
And if you have such (or a slightly different) house (or apartment), you need to be fully equipped and equip your home, finally, the way you want. And in order to know what you want, it is better to get acquainted with the interior that others have. In this article, I propose to look at the interiors in the English style. In the photo below, a classic living room with a carpet, a sofa and armchairs with ears. A low table in front of the sofa with a top covered with natural leather is a visiting card of the English house. The combination of furniture with thin legs (sofa and armchairs) with more massive and voluminous in one room is also a distinctive feature of the British.
The same “eared” chairs, but in colorful upholstery, books on the shelves, a twisted forged chandelier, lighting in the form of small floor lamps with fabric lampshades and, finally, a palm tree by the window - all this is a classic English interior.
The usual comfortable old armchair next to the bed, where you can sit before going to bed and look through a book or watch TV. Everything is simple, but looking at this interior, you understand that everything is fine in this house with comfort and arrangement!
The English house usually has large windows, decorated with curtains to the floor. This gives the rooms a special elegance.
Small rooms with low ceilings, natural wood paneling on the walls, olive-colored walls and soft electric and natural lighting create an atmosphere of an English home.
Wooden panels on the walls are preferably made from durable woods, which are treated in a special way against mold and bugs.
Semicircular windows, dark olive walls, a large fireplace, massive upholstered furniture and palm trees, as witnesses of the past colonial conquests of the British. Much of the interior, as well as outlandish plants, appeared in the dwellings of the British thanks to fearless sailors who brought all this from their long sea voyages.
For some reason, placing upholstered furniture with different upholstery in one room does not cause a feeling of disunity of the interior, but quite the opposite. There is something elusive and unifying in this environment.
A fireplace or a stove that needs to be heated with wood will warm their owners in any frost. And how great it is to come after a slushy and cold street, light a fireplace and sit next to listen to the crackling of firewood and feel how warm it is in the room.
Evenings by the lit fireplace in the narrow circle of the family, what could be better?
Winter evenings will not seem tiringly long, in such a small room next to your loved ones it is warm and you don’t want to go anywhere.
And around the fireplace you can place all the portraits and small paintings that are dear to your heart.
Chimney - as a decoration of the house.
The bedroom in an English house is a well-appointed room. The bed is the main piece of furniture, always beautiful and fundamental.
Not only the furniture in the English house is solid, but also other interior items. The British do not fill their house with cheap knick-knacks, and if they bring a thing into the house, then forever.
The secret of the good quality and quality of English furniture is the use of natural materials for its manufacture and the skill of furniture makers.
Such a metal bed with a wrought-iron headboard looks elegant and light. The bright room is filled with sun and fresh air.
Such a bed is covered with a ruffled bedspread, pillowcases on pillows and curtains on the windows should be in tone with it.
All English furniture is reliable and of high quality, it serves several generations.
And this girl's bedroom is in soft blue with lots of colored pillows.
Here is the bedroom for adult family members. Every inch of space is used here. But everything is in its place, everything pleases the eye.
Once the canopy over the bed was evidence of the greatness of its owner. Now this addition to the interior of the bedroom is arranged by romantic people over their beds.
Order in the house is order in thoughts, success in work, calm and measured life.
Carefully equip not only the bedroom, but also the kitchen. This is a special place in the house where food is prepared, it is always cozy, it smells delicious, there is an abundance of sunlight and flowers.
Here everything is at hand, everything is familiar and familiar. And it has always been so, because the conservative British honor their traditions and keep the connection of generations. Wonderful handmade furniture is passed from grandmother to granddaughter.
English cuisine can also be in light colors with obligatory chair covers, with fabric curtains on glass cabinet doors, with lace curtains on the windows.
There are always a lot of dishes in English cuisine. English porcelain is renowned for its quality, both antique and modern.
Dishes in England have always been made not only porcelain, faience, but also ceramic and metal.
How nice it is to celebrate holidays, for example, New Year and Christmas, in such a reliable and beautiful house. Fresh pine or Christmas tree branches, lit candles, waiting for a miracle.
And here is the Christmas tree, in the evening it will gather the whole family in this small living room.
Such New Year's Eve evenings with the family are remembered forever and live in our childhood memories as the best.
To make your fairy tale house not only cozy and comfortable inside, but also pleasing to the eye from the outside, it should be surrounded by green spaces.
There will never be too many trees, flowers, climbing plants if they are well-groomed. Of course, such a house looks more like the abode of gnomes from English fairy tales, but the flowers are real.
Without the wonderful plants around this house it would be empty and lonely.
And this, albeit small, but such a nice house, also looks good.
I would like to live in such an old brick house, decorated with a climbing trellis rose.
And in front of the house or on the open terrace, put just such a swing sofa with a lace cape.
On such a sunny terrace, among the abundance of plants, it is easy to breathe.
The sofa can be placed not only on the veranda or terrace, but also in the garden in front of the house and admire the daisies, cornflowers and asters in moments of relaxation.
The British, like many people on Earth, appreciate nature and love trees and flowers, so they surround their homes with them.
In such a house should be a simple but comfortable interior.
All these houses have their own face, take a closer look, and you will see it too.
Even from the photograph, you can feel the warmth of human hands, with what love and in a businesslike way everything is done. And the poultry only adds color to this rural idyll.
"My home is my castle" - so say now not only the British. After all, all people in the world understand that their home is part of the happy existence of the whole family.
There is no need to copy from the British their way of life, their houses and interiors. We are different, but no one forbids us to learn from experience and learn from other nations the quality of life, to improve our culture of life, to equip our home, based on the achievements and skills of Europeans.
The English style is a style of refined elegance, which is characterized by a combination of aristocracy, sophistication and restraint. We can say that this style is a special kind of classical style, in particular, there are fewer elements of regularity in the English style than in the "classic", and there are more color schemes. But the main feature is the obligatory use of ancient architecture forms and some colonial notes - elements of oriental interiors. The English style should give the impression of an interior that is at least 100 years old, its motto is family and national traditions. The English style is considered expensive, it emphasizes the wealth and status of its owner. This style is better to "withstand" in the interior completely, it is difficult to combine with modern styles.
Basic elements of the English interior style:
Compliance with ancient examples of architecture.
Restraint, elegance.
As a rule, the interior is designed in dark colors. Exception - a "white" interior is possible.
Expensive finishing materials.
The interior has many elements of noble wood: walnut, bog oak, mahogany.
Large windows with small deglazing, these windows often have an arched top.
Plaster.
Textured wallpaper with patterns of stripes, curls (like on a tapestry) or with a small floral pattern.
In the textile interior design (but not in the design of the walls), a checkered pattern is also used.
Both wallpaper and plaster in the design of the wall are always combined with wood panels, which are placed in the lower third of the wall.
Wide, low window sill, designed as a seat with cushions.
Upholstered furniture upholstered in quality fabric or leather.
A combination of furniture of simple shapes and furniture with curved legs.
Often, furniture with different companion patterns is combined within the same room.
A piece of furniture characteristic of the style is a low massive sofa with round armrests and quilted upholstery.
Dark wood library shelving.
Lots of cornices, wood moldings.
Doors must be either the same color as the floor or the ceiling.
The ceiling is most often wooden, decorated with intersecting beams (the result is a "checkered" relief).
The English interior is massive, some clutter with furniture is allowed.
"Mirror" technique in the design of accessories: the most expensive paintings are framed in the simplest frames, and ordinary mirrors, simple tapestries - in luxurious ones.
Heavy curtains on the windows, fringed pelmets.
Features of the layout of the apartment in the English style:
The layout should be symmetrical, regular geometric shapes, straight lines.
As a rule, the interior is zoned, it should not be viewed immediately.
The apartment should have sufficient area, space is required for style.
Big windows.
No podiums.
The best option for implementing the style is a two-level room with a staircase.
Window in bathroom and kitchen.
The color scheme of the interior in the English style:
Natural discreet colors: various shades of brown, ocher, red, shades of dark green, terracotta, gray green. Additional colors - cream, yellow, ivory, gold, bronze.
English style interior accessories:
Fireplace with a shelf for knick-knacks.
The English style is a deep blending of the visual characteristics of the Georgian and Victorian eras, with an added touch of coloniality, which appeared due to the positioning of Great Britain of those times as a colonial empire. The spread of the interests of this country to the far corners of Asia and the East contributed to the appearance of exquisite gizmos from India and China among the British. They reliably served as a confirmation of the wealth, as well as the high social status of their owners. To create an English style in the interior of an apartment, it is necessary to take good quality, respectability, and solidity as starting points. If Conan Doyle, Dickens, Wilde, Chesterton and Agatha Christie are dear to you, then cool restraint, strong adherence to tradition is the best option for decorating your home.
Essential elements
The main idea, the central axis around which the interior items are strung together, creating the English style in the aggregate, is symmetry. The arrangement of windows, shelves, armchairs, sofas, floor lamps is symmetrical; it is traditional to use duplicate items and accessories in pairs.
Elements emphasizing the belonging of the interior to the chosen style direction: square carpets, numerous portraits, a fireplace, collections behind glass, solid furniture, an armchair with ears, quilted sofas, chairs upholstered in floral print, heavy curtains, twin ceiling lamps, many pillows, porcelain trinkets, clock and bronze.
The walls, as in the days of Sherlock Holmes, are up to half lined with oak panels or slabs trimmed with mahogany veneer. The upper part is pasted over with wallpaper or painted. Preferred colors for common rooms: maroon, sage-leaf silver green, heavy grey, navy blue. The wallpaper is characterized by an acanthus or damask ornament, or voluminous bouquets tied with gold ribbons. Private rooms are decorated with wallpaper in light colors with a small floral pattern.
A special place in the British interior is occupied by draperies - voluminous, multi-folded, tied with tassels or tie-backs at a height of about a meter, located in waves on the floor.
Heavy curtains are sewn in two layers, on a dense lining. This technique is used so that the curtains do not fade from the sun, and their folds keep their shape well.
Traditionally, one-colored fabrics, a cage, a strip, a flower are used. The windows of the living room, study, dining room are decorated with white muslin curtains and curtains made of expensive materials: velvet, satin, brocade. For the summer period, thick curtains are recommended to be replaced with lighter ones made of cotton fabrics.
English house walk
As the theater begins with a hanger, so the English style begins literally from the front door. The aroma of old England, the first accent of the English style, is instantly felt when you are just approaching it: on the paneled door, in addition to an ordinary door handle, a door knocker flaunts. It is not necessary that this item be made like a real hammer. By design, this is a bracket with a protruding part that strikes a metal plate. Now, like two hundred years ago, it is made in the form of a ring, a lion's head, a mythical animal, and many other interesting options, for example, a human palm. This attribute of the entrance group immediately emphasizes that your interior belongs to the English style. The front door of the Victorian era was painted with dark green, cinnabar red or black paint, which emphasized the texture of the wood. Now designers continue to use this technique.
The apartment, the interior of which has absorbed the spirit of British traditions, implies the presence of a large number of rooms. Each of them plays its own role, creating scenery for a certain time period of human life: a living room, an office, a bedroom, a kitchen, a dining room, a nursery (or even a separate study room). What are the distinguishing features of space according to its purpose?
The ideal living room, corresponding to this style direction, is a room with a high ceiling and a bay window. Large, elongated windows are required, starting almost from the floor. The dominant feature of the living room, the symbol of the house and its main decoration is an open fireplace with a black cast-iron firebox placed inside. The facing of the fireplace is made of marble, carved wood or tiles. Cutting off the intense heat, a decorative screen is placed in front, and a large mirror, framed by a front frame, or a picture takes its place above the fireplace.
Strictly opposite the fireplace there is a voluminous furniture group: a sofa, armchairs and banquettes, surrounded by small sofa tables with paired floor lamps or vases.
On both sides of the fireplace there are mirror sideboards, rounded glass showcases or slides, inside them, as well as on the mantelpiece, collections of porcelain (Chinese, English), watches, and bronze are exhibited. Watch mechanisms under glass cases, graceful figurines or the finest items from the great-grandmother's service - these family heirlooms belong here.
The walls of the living room are decorated with paintings in heavy gilded frames, ceremonial family portraits and photographs. A feature is a very dense hanging, i.e. the distance between the pictures is chosen as the minimum allowable.
The main content of the traditional English cabinet interior is books. They are placed on open shelves up to the ceiling, completed with fillets, cornices, possibly pilasters. Engravings are placed on the walls, and furniture, in addition to a desk or bureau, is supposed to be a sofa group, necessarily surrounded by small tables. The severity of lines, muted colors should help create a working mood.
The heart of the bedroom is a high bed, and its distinguishing features are a voluminous headboard, a valance decorated with frills and scallops, a canopy on posts (an optional option), a huge number of pillows. An ottoman is installed at the foot of the bed. Symmetrical beds have bedside tables, night lamps, on the contrary - a dressing table with an armchair or a pouffe. The walls of the bedroom are decorated with prints, lithographs, photographs in thin frames. Curtains are made of cotton or linen fabrics that duplicate the pattern of wallpaper or upholstery used for upholstered furniture.
The most important symbols of the British style in the kitchen are a giant stove, metal dishes, copper pans hanging on the walls, ceramic pots and porcelain displayed on open shelves, dark-colored tiled floors, and a faience deep rectangular sink.
Interior of a small apartment
If your love for “five o clock” is prohibitive, then it is quite possible to reproduce the modern style of a classic English house in a small apartment, but before starting work, you should ask yourself the question: “Is it convenient to live, feeling like a sightseer (or even an exhibit) of a historical museum, especially if it is not located at the source of the Thames, but inside an ordinary modern building?
The best and more elegant solution would be to think over a simple classic English interior, but make some reference to England, add a light aroma of foggy Albion, using objects that have an undeniable belonging to the British style as accents.
When developing an English design for a small space, it is important to maintain the main trends: symmetry and pairing, but the main thing is not to clutter up the space. Take only the essentials: sofa, square rug, fireplace (false fireplace), sofa tables. Instead of a traditional desk with drawers, you can use a desk with a hinged or roll-top lid. Such a piece of furniture is very functional and takes up much less space. Floral curtains, chintz upholstery, a quilted collection of Chesterfield furniture, Victorian colors in the wallpaper, a gentleman's chair, British flag print on the pillows, as a designer's joke - these elements will give your home the required color without overloading it with the massiveness of the old England.
English style in the interior does not contain any special rules. The British have always loved to travel and bring home foreign curiosities. They paid attention to the best things and adapted them as much as possible for their own comfort. The English style is a special variety, where there is no particular predominance of regularity. It necessarily contains elements of antiquity, antique architecture and oriental interiors. The style gives the impression that the interior is at least 100 years old. It does not fit well with other styles, although he took a lot from them. English-style furniture must maintain the high status of its owner and is costly.
English style in the interior
elegance and restraint;
use of ancient architecture;
the predominance of dark interior colors;
expensive finishes and a large number of elements made of noble woods;
large windows with arched tops;
a combination of wallpaper and plaster with wood paneling at the bottom of the wall;
a large number of furniture of simple and complex shapes with expensive upholstery in fabric or leather;
dark wood cabinets;
wooden ceiling with intersecting beams.
English style in the interior: furniture
The material for or living room in the English style is natural dark wood. In order to save money, you can use veneer. The furniture is polished to preserve the natural texture. Often used artificial aging. Forms should be concise and strict. Upholstered furniture is upholstered in leather, bright and light fabric with images of cells, stripes, ornaments and flowers. Armchairs are used high, with soft backs and curved legs. Antique cabinets, chests of drawers, coffee tables, cabinets with high legs, mirrors in wooden frames are suitable for any room. All this creates a romantic mood and comfort in the rooms, making them functional. English style interior photo.
English style in the interior: walls
It has deep historical roots. The style is divided into early Georgian and later Victorian. The walls of the Georgian style were made in one color. It could be a light or darker paint finish with carved wooden borders, skirting boards, and panels. In the Victorian style, the walls were finished on 3 levels. First, a conditional base was created. It could be made of wood panels, painted or covered with embossed wallpaper with a finish on top. Then there was another color scheme to the edge of the frieze, and the third color scheme to the very ceiling - a tone lighter. Similar decoration was carried out in high rooms. Copying a historic interior in modern small rooms can be unsuccessful. Although the mahogany trim of a small office or bedroom can create a special atmosphere.
Wallpaper for English style in the interior of the apartment for example, they are often a convenient solution for creating coziness. All wall defects will be hidden under expressive drawings and embossing.
The use of stucco requires care so as not to overload small rooms. Intricate and bizarre shapes are best suited for antiques, while simple profiles look good in modern homes. In the Victorian era, friezes were always decorated with stucco. Light imitation of synthetic stucco can bring the spirit of history into the room.
floors
The floors are covered with quality carpets. Previously, narrow stripes were left around the perimeter. Currently, the carpet can cover the floor in the entire room. Ceramics are widely used in kitchens, halls and bathrooms. It can be staggered with white and black tiles or in complex patterns of 4-5 different colors. Black and white tiles never go out of style. How the room will look depends on the size and methods of laying the tiles. Diagonal laying of small tiles visually expands a small hallway. A large square room is preferably laid out in large squares.
Textile
Classic English fabric is made in a wide strip of dark green, dark red or stripes of a different shade. The basis is a fabric of two colors with wide stripes and a narrow strip between them with a contrasting shade. There are also floral decorations and ethnic drawings that have appeared since the era of colonization. Many bright and colorful drawings were brought from India, Africa, and Australia. Damask is used, where the pattern is created from one color with a contrast between matte and shiny areas.
Dark colors with hints of gold English style house interior, create a cozy atmosphere in the living room. Different drawings on the walls and curtains catch the eye and do not overload the interior.
Accessories
English style in the interior of the living room, it is presented in large quantities with paintings on the walls, knick-knacks, figurines and souvenirs. There is a lot of furniture and all of it is covered with scarves and napkins, on sofas and armchairs there are bedspreads, blankets, pillows made of velvet and damask.
Wood carvings, copper and gilding are used a lot on accessories, furniture decorations, candlesticks, figurines, mirror frames, paintings and photographs. Chandeliers are made of expensive glass and crystal with several horns. In addition to the main lighting, auxiliary lighting is used in the form of additional lighting, floor lamps and sconces.
The fireplace is an integral part English style in interior design. Aesthetically the best is a wood-burning fireplace. It is a good option for a private home. The entire interior of the living room is usually adjusted to the fireplace.
There are no chimneys in the apartments for a long time. The flame effect is most often simulated on electric fireplaces. Carved stone or dark wood with tile inserts give the fireplace a traditional look. Forged elements are a good addition to the cladding.
The fireplace is usually located in the central part of the wall, but it can also be a corner one. Furniture is placed around it, and paintings, mirrors, and painted accessories are hung on top.
The English style at all times was distinguished by sophistication and conservatism. Rich people could afford it. Nowadays, the English style of apartment interior is available to almost everyone. It creates a spirit of nobility and elegance. If you honor British customs, then this style is for you.
- Harmonious combination of several styles. One is characterized by color saturation and rich design, while the other is characterized by restraint of the color palette, monotony of the walls and a symmetrical pattern in the interior.
- A mandatory element of the English style is a tree. It should be inherent almost everywhere: in wooden furniture, cornices, doors and on walls that are sheathed with half-wooden canvases.
- Another indisputable attribute in the interior is portraits, paintings, family heirlooms, which are a kind of demonstration of respect for the family traditions of England to guests.
- A combination of discreet, muted color compositions that characterize aristocracy. The predominant shades are combinations of brown and gray colors, burgundy and terracotta, golden and bronze, beige and cream shades. The predominance of these color compositions makes it possible to form the integrity of design solutions, so the owner of the apartment can combine them with his preferences in the interior of the apartment.
- The English style in the interior of the apartment is emphasized by the combined lighting, which is installed in different places in the room. The main central place of lighting will be a multi-tiered chandelier, and in addition to it, lamps are equipped in places where there is no access to natural light. By the way, the monochromatic color scheme of objects in the room also helps to expand and illuminate the space in the room.
The presence of antiques in the rooms allows you to experience a sense of belonging to the members of the royal dynasty.
The living room in the English style plays an important role. It hosts meetings with guests, relatives whom they have not seen for a long time. Creating a pleasant, conversational atmosphere is the goal of every apartment owner.
In medieval England, the monarchs preferred to use the English style in their interiors. Back then, home appliances hadn't been invented yet. Therefore, in order not to violate the integrity and harmony of the overall style, the equipment is stored in special lockers.
In must be present items that are made from natural materials. Solid, stylish furniture should be strict and concise, so that the interior feels lively, full of energy atmosphere.
In this regard, quite catchy patterns and ornaments are used, which indicate the possibility of using the available space without any restrictions. Finishing can be made brighter and more contrasting or plain without abstract patterns.
Furniture should be simple, seasoned, but must be decorated with wood carvings, well polished and covered with quality material.
Such a coating is done in order to give the furniture the sophistication and sophistication characteristic of the aristocracy.
The interior of the living room should contain a wide variety of textiles, both in relation to upholstered furniture and chairs, and in relation to such things as curtains, tablecloths, pillows, etc. According to the design concept, they can be made in pastel colors in all sorts of checks, stripes or flowers.
Parquet or carpet is an undeniable floor covering, and the finish is chosen based on the color of the furniture. For ceilings, stucco molding and three-dimensional drawings are usually used in light shades.
An attribute without which it is impossible to imagine any interior in the English style is a stylish solid fireplace. It will create comfort and coziness in the winter cold season. Also in the interior there should be a bookcase. This will speak about the education of the owner and his family.
The final step in giving the interior a noble look will be accessories such as grandfather clocks, flower vases, a floor lamp and various figurines. Usually the owner decorates his house with those things that reflect the type of his activity.
How to decorate a bedroom in the English style?
English style is quite appropriate for the interior of the bedroom. Its stylistic focus includes calm and soothing color shades that contribute to a relaxing holiday, and large windows will help you easily meet the morning and be in a good mood all day.
The bedroom must have a large bed with high legs, which will be equipped with a canopy. Although there are several more bed options:
- in shape, resembling a boat;
- bed with curved back.
Small bedside tables are installed on the sides, on the contrary - a soft ottoman, and near the window - a dressing table. Also along the wall are a massive closet and a chest of drawers, which are painted in the same color scheme as the room.
How to design a bathroom in the English style?
The main item in the bathroom is, of course, the bathtub. But for an interior in the English style, it should be with original forged legs. It should be surrounded by antique furniture. Plumbing should also be made in the spirit of the medieval era. Mirror cloth, hangers, as well as a bedside table are installed additionally in free places in the bathroom.
As for the tiles on the floor and ceiling, they are usually in the same color scheme as the main color. If you add light transitional tones to the main color, then this will visually provide a slight transition from the main rooms to the small bathroom, and also keep one style. Tiles are laid in the form of a mosaic, which is made up of slabs of different configurations and color shades. The octagonal and square configuration of the tiles gained the greatest appreciation among buyers.
In conclusion, we note that by decorating your apartment in the English style, you are approaching a luxurious life and create for yourself the image of a responsible person with views of a quiet life that are rooted in all respects. With the help of solid color compositions in the design of the apartment, you create a peaceful environment for yourself and your loved ones.
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